Florence men burglary suspects

FLORENCE, Wis. – Two Florence County men have been arrested in connection to the Dec. 12 burglary of a pharmacy in the town of Laona, Wis.

Forest County Sheriff John Dennee said that 27-year-old Charles E. Hetzer and 26-year-old Sheldon L. Burkart were arrested following searches of their residences in Florence County.

No criminal charges have been filed against the men in Forest County as of Thursday morning.

However, Florence County District Attorney Douglas Drexler confirmed that Burkart is facing related charges of drug possession in Florence County.

Those charges include one felony count of possession of heroin, one felony count of possession of marijuana-second and subsequent offense, one misdemeanor count of receiving and concealing stolen property-less than $2,500, six misdemeanor counts of possession of an illegally obtained prescription, two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Burkart will be in Florence County Court for a preliminary examination on the charges on Jan. 15.

According to Dennee, the pharmacy burglary case remains under investigation, and more arrests may be forthcoming.

The burglary occurred on Dec. 12, when a masked individual gained entrance to the Laona Pharmacy by breaking through a wall between the Laona Clinic and the pharmacy.